While Junagarh is submerged in darkness due to the deception of a mystical witch, Kanchangarh has been adorned with a heavenly light. Today is that auspicious moment. Six months have passed in the blink of an eye. Today is the rice-eating ceremony (Annaprashan) and the naming ritual for the twins who have brought light to Arohi's lap. Every pillar of the Kanchangarh royal palace is draped today in garlands of jasmine and tuberose. Auspicious clay pots (Mangalghat) have been placed at the gateways, with five-wicked lamps burning atop them.
Since dawn, the melancholic yet sweet strains of the shehnai have begun to play in the palace. Arohi bathed very early today and dressed in a white Gorad silk saree and gold ornaments. A sublime maternal glow radiates from her face. However, in a corner of her heart, that old pain still cries out—"If only Aditya were by my side today!" But looking at the faces of her children, she suppresses all her grief and welcomes the guests with a smile.
The whole of Kanchangarh is ecstatic with celebration today. The Queen Mother is personally supervising everything to ensure there are no flaws. Thousands of subjects have been invited. A massive marquee has been set up to arrange a grand feast for them. The Brahmin scholars of the kingdom have begun chanting auspicious mantras. The flames of the sacrificial fire (Homakunda) seem to want to touch the sky. As the afternoon approached, the main ceremony commenced in the royal court of Kanchangarh. Arohi entered the court with her two children. As she walked over the velvet carpet, everyone's eyes were on those two stars. Sandalwood, paddy, durva grass, and royal gold coins were kept on a golden platter.
The royal priest finished the chanting in a grave voice and looked toward the Queen Mother. Taking the first child (the boy) in her arms with great affection, the Queen Mother announced, "From today, the name of this prince of Kanchangarh is—Prafulla. May he spread laughter and fragrance in everyone's life just like a blooming flower." Everyone present in the assembly cheered in unison. Prafulla was looking at everyone with his large eyes and giggling, as if he liked his name very much.
Next, the Queen Mother took the second child (the girl) into her arms. Her complexion was as pure as the autumn Kash flowers. Painting a sandalwood tilak on her forehead, the Queen Mother said, "The name of this princess is—Snigdha. May her nature and beauty be as serene and calm as moonlight." The subjects erupted in joy. The atmosphere vibrated with the sound of conch shells and traditional ululations.
Then began the actual ritual of the first feeding of rice. Pudding (Payesh) was brought in a golden bowl. With her own hands, Arohi performed the Annaprashan for Prafulla first and then for Snigdha. The moment the pudding touched Prafulla's mouth, he began to eat smacking his lips, making everyone burst into laughter. And Snigdha, very calmly holding her mother's finger, ate a little and gave a smile of satisfaction. The arrangement of food at this festival in Kanchangarh was a sight to behold. Large earthen plates were being served to the subjects with hot rice, Sona Moong dal, finely shredded potato fries, Shukto, Chanar Dalna (paneer curry), and Kanchangarh's famous tender mutton curry. Finally, there was jaggery pudding and sweet curd. The subjects ate to their heart's content and began to bless them, "May our Princess Arohi and her children live long."
Arohi was moving among everyone, supervising. One of the subjects suddenly asked, "Princess, you said the father of our Prafulla and Snigdha has gone for trade, but has no one come from Junagarh? Our elder Maharaja or Maharani?"
Arohi's heart trembled. Composing herself, she said with a faint smile, "Very strict rules are being followed in Junagarh right now. Father's health is not good, so Mother couldn't leave him. And Aditya... he is far away across the foreign seas for trade. It might take more time for the news to reach him. However, his heart remains here."
While saying these words, Arohi's voice was choking. She thought to herself—"Aditya, today your children's rice-eating ceremony is over, and you didn't even get to know their names! But I know, God will let you know the truth at the right time." In the afternoon, cultural programs began. Renowned artists of the kingdom set up a session of dance and song. Prafulla and Snigdha were laid in a golden palanquin. The subjects brought so many things for them! Some brought clay dolls, some brought small hand-woven clothes, and others brought fresh fruits from their gardens.
The Queen Mother came and stood beside Arohi. She whispered, "See Arohi, an entire kingdom can be won with love." Looking at her children, Arohi took a new vow in her mind. She would cry no more. From now on, she would only raise her children so that one day they could liberate Junagarh from the hands of that devil.
As evening fell at the end of the festival, the surroundings of the Kanchangarh palace were decorated with thousands of lamps. In the glow of the lamps, Arohi's face looked as bright as a formidable queen. She looked at the sky with Prafulla and Snigdha. She prayed in her heart, "Oh God, bless my children. May the path to take them back to their father open very soon."
The news of this grand arrangement might not have reached the Junagarh palace, but the names of Prafulla and Snigdha were etched in the hearts of every person in Kanchangarh today. They knew that the true heirs of Junagarh were growing up right here in Kanchangarh. While the festival of the rice-eating ceremony for Prafulla and Snigdha was underway in Kanchangarh, a bone-chilling farce had begun in the court of the Junagarh royal palace. A special royal assembly had been convened today. The Maharaja sat on the throne, with Aditya and the Queen Mother by his side. The prominent ministers of the kingdom had arrived for an urgent discussion. Just at that moment, Princess Subarnalata (Sushila) entered the court. But seeing her movements, everyone was struck with disbelief.
Instead of walking straight, she suddenly crouched down on the floor on all fours. Right in front of everyone, she stuck out her tongue and began barking exactly like a dog—"Gheu gheu!" The Maharaja, taken aback, said, "What is this! Subarnalata, why are you sitting on the floor and barking like that?"
Sushila gave no answer. She suddenly leaped up to her feet. Her eyes seemed to be bulging out. She then spread her legs wide, lowered her head, and began jumping all over the court while screaming in a bizarre, dinosaur-like voice. She leaped over the ministers' seats in such a way that her foot struck an elderly minister's head, knocking off his turban. Aditya stood up and said, "Subarnalata! What is this incivility! Be calm!"
But Sushila was beyond control now. She suddenly stopped and began thumping her chest violently with both hands—just like a mad gorilla! She struck her own chest with such thudding sounds that the Queen Mother shuddered in fear. Sushila bared her teeth in a grotesque grin and said, "Ha ha ha! I am a gorilla! I will chew up and swallow this kingdom!"
The Maharaja lowered his head in shame. As the guards tried to seize her, Sushila changed her persona again. She ran straight to the Maharaja's throne and slumped down in front of it. Then, puffing out her chest and lifting her face toward the sky, she let out a terrifying roar like a lion—"Haauuuuu!"
Hearing that roar, half the people in the royal court ran outside in terror. Sushila then looked at the Maharaja and made lewd gestures, saying, "Old King! Your kingdom is now a mere sweetmeat in my hand! I'll pluck out your beard hairs and stick them in my own hair!" Aditya quickly went and grabbed Sushila's hand. Sushila then pushed Aditya away, making him fall, and began to giggle hysterically.
She started shouting, "Oh little boy Aditya! I feel like climbing onto your shoulders and dancing again! I'll turn you into a horse and keep you tied in the stable!" The Queen Mother said tremblingly, "Aditya, I told you before that this girl is not human! She is surely some demoness!"
Sushila then looked at the Queen Mother and winked, saying, "Oh you old Queen! You've returned from the house of death; now I'll send you straight to the bed of the God of Death. I'll give your wrinkled skin to the old witch to cook a broth!" Everyone was stunned to hear such filthy and obscene words.
Sushila then suddenly began rolling on the floor, laughing. She said while laughing, "You think I'm mad? No! I am the Queen of this Junagarh! I will lock all of you in cages!" Aditya somehow tried to pick her up in his arms, but Sushila gave such a jerk to Aditya's hair that his scream resonated throughout the entire palace.
Eventually, Sushila went limp and fell to the floor. Aditya took her to the room. A deathly silence hung over the royal court. The Maharaja sighed and said, "The Junagarh lineage never faced such a disgrace. What has our son ended up with!"
But Sushila was exploding with diabolical triumph internally. Lying on the bed, she thought—
"Ha ha ha! Everyone got very scared, didn't they? Now, one by one, I will kick everyone out and turn this royal palace into a den of devils." Night fell. While Prafulla and Snigdha were shrouded in peaceful sleep in Kanchangarh, Sushila was weaving a new web of conspiracy under the cover of darkness in Junagarh. She does not know that the two children growing up with God's blessings in the light of Kanchangarh's lamps will one day break the venomous fangs of this serpent.